Accessory mounting plate for snowboards

ABSTRACT

A snowboard system ( 100 ) includes a pack ( 102 ) mounted to a snowboard ( 104 ) by way of a mounting plate ( 106 ). The pack ( 102 ) is attached to the mounting plate ( 106 ). The mounting plate ( 106 ) is then mounted on the snowboard ( 104 ) using the binding fasteners. Specifically, the bindings are removed from the snowboard ( 104 ), and the mounting plate ( 106 ) is then placed on the snowboard ( 104 ) so that the openings of the mounting plate are aligned with the fastener receptacles of the snowboard ( 104 ). The bindings are then reattached to the snowboard ( 104 ) so that the mounting plate ( 106 ) is captured therebetween. In this manner, the pack ( 102 ) is secured to the snowboard ( 104 ) without any additional mounting structure.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to snowboards and, inparticular, to equipping snowboards with accessories for storage and/orcarrying the snowboard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Snowboarders may pack a variety of items for use during a snowboardouting. For example, a snowboarder may wish to pack tools, sunscreen,food and drink, and additional clothing and eyewear options. Storage isparticularly important for backcountry snowboarders who need to beprepared for weather changes and may also need avalanche beacons,collapsible shovels and other survival gear.

Carrying such gear can be inconvenient, especially for backcountrysnowboarders. Such backcountry snowboarders may need to hike asignificant distance to a desired snowboarding location. During theascent, the snowboarder needs to carry the snowboard in addition to allof the required gear. Then, during descent, the snowboarder may need tocarry equipment used during the hike in addition to the other gear.

Snowboarders have typically worn backpacks to carry the gear and, insome cases, have been able to somehow attach the snowboard to thebackpack during the ascent. However, such attachment of the snowboard tothe backpack may not be secure. In addition, some snowboarders arebothered by wearing sometimes heavy or bulky packs during descent.Wearing packs may bother even snowboarders in ski areas. This provides asignificant disincentive to bringing gear that may be needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a mounting plate for mountingaccessories on a snowboard, as well as to a snowboard with mountedaccessories and methods for assembling and using the same. The inventionallows accessories to be mounted directly to the snowboard, therebyreducing or eliminating the need to wear a backpack during descent andencouraging snowboarders to bring all necessary gear. The accessoriescan include deployable straps for carrying the snowboarding gear duringascent, thereby making hiking more convenient. The mounting plate can beused in connection with a variety of snowboards without requiringdedicated mounting holes to be formed in the snowboard surface.Accordingly, the mounting plate can be easily mounted on the snowboardwithout concern for compromising the snowboard structure.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a snowboard witha mounting plate is provided. In this regard, a snowboard apparatusincludes a snowboard, first and second bindings mounted on the snowboardfor engaging footwear of a snowboarder and a mounting plate for use inmounting an accessory to the snowboard. The mounting plate includes afirst portion disposed between the snowboard and at least one of thebindings so that the mounting plate is thereby secured to the snowboard,and a second portion to provide a surface for mounting of the accessory.

In one embodiment, the mounting plate extends between the first andsecond bindings and is captured between each of the bindings and thesnowboard. The mounting plate includes a number of openings for passageof binding fasteners therethrough. Accordingly, the mounting plate couldbe attached to the snowboard by removing the bindings, aligning theopenings with the binding fasteners and then securing the bindingfasteners to the snowboard so that the mounting plate is trapped betweenthe bindings and the snowboard. It will thus be appreciated that themounting plate is secured to the snowboard by the binding fasteners anddoes not require a separate mounting structure. Preferably, the openingsare configured to accommodate a variety of binding configurations. Forexample, the openings may be formed as elongate slots having a majoraccess aligned with the longitudinal axis of the snowboard. A number ofslots may be provided under each of the bindings, spaced from side toside relative to the snowboard, to accommodate different bindingconfigurations.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a mountingplate with a storage container is provided for attachment to a snowboardassembly. This snowboard assembly includes a snowboard and first andsecond snowboard bindings. The mounting plate includes a first portiondisposed between the first binding and the snowboard, a second portiondisposed between the second binding and the snowboard and a thirdportion extending between the first and second portions. The storagecontainer is mounted on the third portion of the mounting plate. In thisregard, the mounting plate is captured between the bindings and thesnowboard to mount the mounting plate to the snowboard.

The storage container is attached to the mounting plate, for example, byrivets or other fasteners. A variety of different storage containers maybe provided. A large storage container, for example, substantiallyextending across the entire space between the bindings, may be providedfor greater storage capacity. Such a large storage container may bedesired for backcountry snowboarders or other snowboarders desiringsignificant storage capacity. Alternatively, a smaller storagecontainer, extending across only a portion of the space between thebindings, may be provided. Preferably, in the case of a smaller storagecontainer, the storage container is disposed adjacent to one of thebindings so that an open space on the board remains between the bindingswhere the snowboarder can rest one foot (e.g., when one foot is removedfrom the bindings to ride a ski lift). The storage container may beadjacent to either one of the bindings to accommodate snowboarderpreferences.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, amethod is provided for securing an accessory to a snowboard assembly.The snowboard assembly includes a snowboard and first and secondbindings. The method involves providing a mounting plate, mounting theaccessory on a first portion of the mounting plate and disposing asecond portion of the mounting plate between the first binding and thesnowboard so that the mounting plate is captured therebetween. In oneimplementation, the mounting plate is captured between each binding andthe snowboard. In this regard, one or more fasteners, such as screws,may extend from the binding through the mounting plate and into thesnowboard. As discussed above, openings may be provided in the mountingplate for this purpose. Such openings may be configured to accommodate avariety of different binding configurations.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, amethod is provided for use in carrying a snowboard assembly, including asnowboard and a storage container secured to the snowboard. The methodinvolves opening the storage container, deploying carrying straps fromthe storage container and using the straps to carry the snowboardassembly. The storage container may have one or more compartments forstoring items, as discussed above, or may simply be a compartment forstoring the straps. The straps can be stowed within a pocket, e.g.,which can be closed and opened using a zipper or Velcro. When the pocketis opened, the straps can be deployed into a carrying configuration. Inone implementation, the straps are mounted on the inside of flaps formedon the storage container when the straps are in the stowedconfiguration. The flaps can then be deployed so as to wrap around tothe underside of the snowboard where the straps can be attached to oneanother. In the deployed configuration, the straps can be used asshoulder straps for carrying the snowboard assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and furtheradvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are top and side views, respectively, of a snowboardwith mounted storage container in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1C is a top view of a mounting plate for use in mounting a storagecontainer to a snowboard in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a snowboard with a storage container mountedthereon in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an assembly process for mounting a storage containeron a snowboard in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a process for deploying snowboard carrying strapsin accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, the invention is set forth in the contextof specific embodiments of snowboards with packs or storage containersmounted thereon. Although specific examples are thereby provided toillustrate the invention, it will be appreciated that the invention isnot limited to these specific examples. Accordingly, the followingdescription should be understood as illustrating specificimplementations of the invention and not by way of limitation.

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate a snowboard system 100 in accordance with thepresent invention. More specifically, the system 100 includes a pack 102mounted to a snowboard 104 by way of a mounting plate 106. The snowboard104 may be substantially any snowboard available on the market. Indeed,one of the advantages of the present invention is that it can be used inconnection with virtually any existing snowboard and binding systemwithout requiring modification of the snowboard or bindings for mountingof the pack 102.

The illustrated pack 102 includes one or more internal compartments forstoring equipment as desired by the user. It will be appreciated that avariety of different types of packs and equipment may be accommodated inaccordance with the present invention. For example, a snowboarder maydesire to carry tools, clothing, food and drink and/or survival gear.The pack 102 may be specifically designed to accommodate one or more ofthese types of items. For example, the pack 102 may be a small tool bag.Alternatively, the pack 102 may be a specially designed survival gearkit. Alternatively, the pack 102 may include one or more internalcompartments that are generally usable for storing any items as desiredby the user. In any case, the compartment(s) may be accessed by zippers,clasps, Velcro or other reclosable structure. A locking mechanism, suchas conventional zipper locks, may optionally be provided for securingthe contents of the pack 102.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pack 102 is a large pack that extendssubstantially across the entire space between the snowboard bindings, aswill be understood from the description below. However, smaller packsmay be employed. The illustrated pack 102 is secured to the mountingplate 106 by a number of fasteners 108 such as rivets. In this regard,the fasteners 108 may serve to substantially permanently attach the pack102 to the mounting plate 106 or may be removable fasteners such asscrews, push pins or Velcro. Such removable fasteners would allow thesnowboarder to conveniently remove the pack 102 as may be desired (forexample, to take the pack 102 into a ski lodge or other location duringa lunch break). As will be understood from the description below, thepack 102 and mounting plate 106 may alternatively be removed from thesnowboard 104.

As will be understood from the description below, the mounting plate106, as best shown in FIG. 1C, allows for mounting of the pack 102 tothe snowboard 104. Specifically, the mounting plate 106 is capturedbetween the snowboard bindings (not shown in FIGS. 1A-1C) and thesnowboard 104 to secure the mounting plate 106 and pack 102 to thesnowboard 104. In this regard, the binding fasteners, which are used tomount the bindings to the snowboard 104, are also used to mount themounting plate 106 to the snowboard 104. These binding fasteners aretypically provided in the form of screws or bolts that extend from thebottom of the bindings into receptacles formed on the upper surface ofthe snowboard 104. In accordance with the present invention, thesnowboard fasteners extend through the openings 110 formed in themounting plate 106. If necessary, the binding fasteners may be replacedwith slightly longer fasteners to accommodate the mounting plate 106,which is interposed between the binding and the snowboard 104.

As noted above, one of the advantages of the present invention is thatthe mounting plate 106 and pack 102 can be mounted to the snowboard 104using the binding fasteners and without requiring modification of thesnowboard 104 (such as by drilling additional holes). The illustratedmounting plate 106 includes openings 110 that accommodate a variety ofdifferent bindings/snowboard mounting systems. In particular, theillustrated mounting plate 106 includes a number of elongate openings110 having axes generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of thesnowboard 104. The openings 110 are spaced across the width of thesnowboard 104. In this regard, the illustrated configurationaccommodates variations in relation to the spacing between the bindingsand the side-to-side spacing of the binding fasteners. It is believedthat the illustrated configuration will accommodate many differentbinding configurations.

The mounting plate 106 preferably has a length, L₁, of between about24-36 inches. In the illustrated embodiment, the length L₁ is about 32inches. The openings 110 have an outer end that is located a distance,x, from the ends of the mounting plate 106. The distance, x, ispreferably between about 1-3 inches, for example, about 2 inches. Theopenings have a length, L₂, that is preferably between about 5-10inches, for example, about 7.5 inches. In addition, the illustratedopenings 110 have a width of about a 0.5-inch and are separated from oneanother by a distance of about 0.25 inches. Three openings 110 areprovided, in the illustrated embodiment, in the vicinity of eachbinding. The openings 110 have rounded ends to reduce stresses andminimize the likelihood of cracking. The mounting plate 106 may beformed from any suitable materials that will withstand the snowboardingenvironment. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting plate 106 isformed from plastic and may be about 0.125 inch thick.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative snowboard pack system 200 in accordance withthe present invention. The system 200 is substantially identical to thesystem 100 of FIG. 1 except the pack 202 is smaller than thatillustrated in FIG. 1. It will be appreciated that some snowboarders maynot need a large storage capacity and may prefer to have a smaller pack.The pack 202 extends only about half the distance between the bindings.Preferably, the pack 202 is disposed adjacent to one of the bindings,which may be selected by the snowboarder. In this manner, a space 204 isprovided on the upper surface of the mounting plate 206 where thesnowboarder can rest a foot when the boot is removed from one of thebindings (usually the rear binding). A snowboarder may desire to removeone boot from the binding, for example, when boarding a lift, riding alift or dismounting a lift. In particular, when dismounting the lift,the snowboarder may desire to rest a boot on the surface of the mountingplate 206. In order to reduce slipping of the snowboarder's boot on thesurface of the mounting plate 206, the surface may be roughened,friction tape may be applied or the surface may otherwise be adapted toreduce such slippage.

FIG. 3 shows how a mounting plate 300 can be used to attach a pack 302to a snowboard 304. Conventionally, snowboard bindings 306 includefasteners 308 that are received within receptacles 310 formed in theupper surface of the snowboard 304. in the context of the presentinvention, the bindings 306 can first be removed from the snowboard 304by disengaging the fasteners 308. The mounting plate 300 with attachedpack 302 can then be positioned on the snowboard 304 so that theopenings 312 of the mounting plate 300 are aligned with the receptacles310 on the snowboard 304. The bindings 306 can then be placed on thesnowboard 304 so that the fasteners 308 extend through the openings 312and the mounting plate 300 into the receptacles 310 of the snowboard204. The fasteners 308 can then be tightened so that the mounting plate300 is captured between the bindings 306 and the snowboard 304.

The system of the present invention can also be used to provide strapsfor carrying a snowboard. Such straps may be provided in conjunctionwith a pack, as described above, or may be provided independently as amechanism to facilitate carrying the snowboard, e.g., for use bybackcountry snowboarders. One implementation of such a system 400 isillustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C. The illustrated system 400 includes amounting plate 402 for mounting on a snowboard 404 as described above.The system 400 further includes a pack 406 for storing any of variousitems as described above. However, in this case, the pack 406 is furtheradapted to provide carrying straps in a deployed configuration.

More specifically, in FIG. 4A, the pack 406 is shown in a closedconfiguration where the shoulder straps are stowed inside of the pack406. As shown, the pack includes two flaps 408 that meet at the centerof the pack 406. In the closed configuration, the flaps 408 may besecured to one another by zippers, Velcro, snaps or other appropriatemechanisms. In addition, each of the flaps 408 is associated withzippers 410 or other appropriate structure that allows the flaps 408 tobe opened and closed.

FIG. 4B shows a configuration of the flaps 408 when the zippers 410 havebeen opened. In this configuration, the inside surface of the flaps 408can be seen. As shown, each of the flaps 408 includes a shoulder strapassembly 412. The illustrated shoulder strap assemblies 412 each includea padded section 414, strap segments 416 and a buckle 418, such as aglide buckle, for tightening the strap segments 416. The illustratedflaps 408 further include attachment strips 420 such as mating Velcrostrips.

FIG. 4C shows the flaps 408 in a deployed configuration. Morespecifically, FIG. 4C is a bottom view looking at the bottom surface ofthe snowboard 404. The flaps 408 have been wrapped around the snowboardso that the attachment strips 420 (See FIG. 4B) are secured together. Inthis configuration, the shoulder strap assemblies 412 are exposed on thebottom surface of the snowboard 404 so that the snowboard 404 can beconveniently carried on the snowboarder's back.

The foregoing description of the present invention has been presentedfor purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, thedescription is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosedherein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with theabove teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are withinthe scope of the present invention. The embodiments describedhereinabove are further intended to explain best modes known ofpracticing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art toutilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and with variousmodifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of thepresent invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construedto include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the priorart.

1. A snowboard apparatus, comprising: a snowboard; first and secondbindings, mounted on said snowboard, for engaging footwear of asnowboarder; and a mounting plate for use in mounting an accessory tosaid snowboard, said mounting plate including a first portion disposedbetween said snowboard and at least one of said first and secondbindings such that said mounting plate is thereby secured to saidsnowboard, and a second portion, laterally extending from said at leastone of said first and second bindings, to provide a surface for mountingof said accessory.
 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid second portion of said mounting plate is disposed between saidfirst and second bindings.
 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein said mounting plate extends from said first binding to saidsecond binding.
 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidmounting plate is captured between said first binding and said snowboardand between said second binding and said snowboard.
 5. The apparatus asset forth in claim 1, wherein said mounting plate further comprises aplurality of openings for passage of a plurality of binding fastenersthere through.
 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein saidopenings are preformed.
 7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5,wherein said openings are configured to allow passage of bindingfasteners of multiple different bindings.
 8. The apparatus as set forthin claim 1, wherein said openings are slot-shaped having a major axisextending along a major axis of said snowboard.
 9. The apparatus as setforth in claim 1, further comprising said accessory, said accessorybeing mounted on said mounting plate.
 10. The apparatus as set forth inclaim 9, wherein said accessory comprises a storage container.
 11. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said accessory comprisesstraps for use in carrying said snowboard.
 12. An apparatus for use inconnection with a snowboard assembly, said snowboard assembly comprisinga snowboard and first and second bindings, mounted on said snowboard,for engaging footwear of a snowboarder, said apparatus comprising: amounting plate including a first portion disposed between said firstbinding and said snowboard, a second portion disposed between saidsecond binding and said snowboard and a third portion extending betweensaid first and second portions; and a storage container mounted on saidthird portion of said mounting plate.
 13. The apparatus as set forth inclaim 12, wherein said mounting plate is captured between said firstbinding and said snowboard and between said second binding and saidsnowboard.
 14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein saidmounting plate further comprises a plurality of openings for passage ofa plurality of binding fasteners therethrough.
 15. The apparatus as setforth in claim 14, wherein said openings are configured to allow passageof binding fasteners of multiple different bindings.
 16. The apparatusas set forth in claim 12, wherein said storage container includes strapsfor use in carry said snowboard.
 17. A method for use in securing anaccessory to a snowboard assembly, said snowboard assembly comprising asnowboard and first and second bindings for engaging footwear of asnowboarder, said method comprising: providing a mounting plate;mounting said accessory on a first portion of said mounting plate; anddisposing a second portion of said mounting plate between said firstbinding and said snowboard so that said mounting plate is capturedtherebetween.
 18. The method as set forth in claim 17, furthercomprising the step of disposing a third portion of said mounting platebetween said second binding at said snowboard so that said mountingplate is captured therebetween.
 19. The method as set forth in claim 17,wherein said step of disposing comprises inserting a fastener throughsaid binding and through said mounting plate into said snowboard tosecure said mounting plate to said snowboard.
 20. A method for use incarrying a snowboard assembly, said snowboard assembly comprising asnowboard and a storage container secured to said snowboard, said methodcomprising the steps of: opening said storage container; deployingcarrying straps from said storage container; and using said straps tocarry said snowboard assembly.